Life-preserver



(No Model.)

W. MQORORY.

LIFE PRBSERVER.

No. 354, 45. Patented Dec. 21, 1886.

M5155; fi k/l N. PETERS, Phulo-Lilhngraphar. Washington. D. C-

WILLIAM MOOROBY, OF FAYETTE CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHAR-LES TAYLOR, OF ELIZABETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,645, dated December 21, 1886.

Application filed June 28, 1886, Serial No. 206,522. (No model.)

' tion, such as will enable others skilled in the .art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. a

My object is to improve life preserving vests in such manner that the preponderance of buoyancy shall bein front of the wearer, or, in other words, to introduce in a vest artificial buoyant lungs, leaving the back perfectly free, with the only exception of those parts which are below the scapulze.

The following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, will illustrate a practical mode of carrying my invention, into effect.

Figure 1 is a front view illustrating the manner of applying the device to a person. Fig. 2 is a posterior view of the vest. Fig. 3 is a view showing the general contour of the vest when laid flat.

My improved life-preserving vest is constructed as follows: I take oiled silk, or other suitable material impervious to water and air, double it to form two walls or parts, and form my pattern as follows: I cut from the material referred to above from the point at to the point x, forming the are designated by 00*. I then cut outwardly from w to :0 and from w to w,

toward or in the arc of a circle.

as delineated by Fig. 3. From as" I again out At :0 x I make a deep circularscore, so that I leave in the median line (indicated by the dotted line at) a very narrow portion. This portion lies, when the vest is in use on the person, below the back bones known as the scapulae, and it is so far below those muscles which aid in the movements of the arms that the arms are left perfectly free. This posterior port-ion is, in fact, a back'brace, and while it may be partially inflated it does not in any manner interfere with the buoyancy of the anterior parts of the vest. The two parts referred to are suitably cemented and stitched together, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to form a sack or airbag vest. Openings a a are made for armholes, and from these openings I stitch to- 5 5 gether the two walls or thicknesses of material to form reenforcing braces or binders AA, which constitute in the bag, diaphragms to prevent an excess of air being forced into the posterior portion of the vest.

In practice I have found that there is considerable strain between the armholes and the yoke 11 in the exercise of the arms in swimming. I therefore firmly bind the said walls in the lines indicated on the annexed drawings by 00 00 The vest is secured at the front of the person by button and button-hole fastenings, or by other suitable means, and it is provided with a blow or inflating tube, 6, and an air-outlet 7o tube, f, having suitable valves.

Now, it will be seen from the above description that I have invented practically a lifepreserving or swimmingvest or buoy, which is so constructed that the major part of the bag is located directly over and covers the breast of the body, which part I denominate the lung-bag B, inasmuch asit is an auxiliary to the floating capacity of the human lungs.

It will also be observed that the air or arti- SJ ficial lung or breast bagis so located and graduated in capacity for holding air with reference to the back-brace that the face of the wearer when in water will not be pitched forward.

Having described my invention, I claim' 1. An air or life-preserving vest consisting of two thicknesses of water and air proof fabric, cut as described, cemented at their edges, and having the reenforcing portions x unitingthe armholes with the neck-yoke, substantially as specified.

2. The improved vest consisting of the dou- 'ble fabric having re-enforcing diaphragms ex 3. The improved article of manufacture valves, all constructed and adapted to operate herein described, consisting of a double-walled substantially in the manner and for the pur- 1o vest made of water and air proof material, poses described. v provided with a narrow back portion, a deep WILLIAM MOGRORY.

5 back score, armholes, the re-enforcing por- Witnesses tions as between the armholes, connecting the GEO. K. WILsoN, two walls or thicknesses of fabric, the front SAML. B. HAMILTON.

fastenings, and two tubes, 6 f, provided with JOHN T. BRIGHTWELL. 

